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Sustainable Streets in St. Louis

Posted by: Nate Berg

18 October 2009 - 7:00am

The city of St. Louis has been testing out a new sustainable streetscape design that calms traffic and helps absorb stormwater. The test run has been so well-received, the city is thinking about rolling out the design permanently.

The 30-day test is likely to become the new model for the city's street designs.

"The new design reduces four traffic lanes to three, changes the timing of traffic lights, adds curb 'bulb-outs' to reduce the amount of yardage pedestrians need to cross from 56 to 40 feet, and increases lighting and landscaping. About $2.7 million in federal stimulus funds have been awarded for the work.

'The goal is to have 50 percent of the new sections porous surfacing or plantings,' Culbertson said. 'If we do that, then the majority of the water that falls will actually percolate into the ground.' St. Louis has a combined sewage-stormwater system, which can be overwhelmed during downpours."

Full Story: Sustainable Streetscape
Source: The Architect's Newspaper, October 15, 2009
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If hundreds of people in your community raised reasonable concerns about a planning program you developed, how would you respond? Perhaps you might call a community meeting, or ask community elected officials to reach out to community leaders.
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